...and, we now know who the next president will be. Hint: it's not Obama, since he stands about a 0.1% chance of being elected.

Any Hillary supporters or Democrats in general who want to help restore that party to sanity should go to Obama's public appearances and ask him one of these questions and get his response on video. Then, upload it to Youtube and other sites.

If necessary, I'll hit the road and ask him those questions, so Dems might consider whether they want him to be asked those questions (and others) now, or whether they want to wait until later in the year for them to be asked.

What does she say to the superdelegates? That she did the job the party elders should have done, and the media should have done sooner, vetting this mystery man when everyone else was professing their love for this transformational transubstantiationist. Now you've got a dilemma. The party is clearly divided, nearly in half. Either one of them goes into the general election hobbled, but she will argue she is less hobbled, because her base represents the Democrats' most reliable voters, and she has a better shot of wooing his voters than the reverse.

I don't think she'll win that argument, but it can be made. She'll say Obama can't be elected, so it's my duty to continue so you have an option. To grind away until you see I'm right.

Florida and Michigan are essential to her case. Two big and important states she will argue should be in her column, stolen from her because Howard Dean had a hissy fit last year when they wouldn't join him in ridiculous obeisance to New Hampshire tradition.

I think Russert is helping somebody by making these ex cathedra type pronouncements. The situation isn't significantly different than it was before today.

However, those who want to declare it's over have a point. Obama can't survive much longer. He needs help, not more slagging. Russert is speaking to this wish. He is not being much of a reporter, but he's being a good Democrat.

What do you think Russert and the rest of the media would be saying if there were another Republican in the race that was still drawing >40% of the vote vs. McCain, and even winning in big, critical states?

You will know that the Clintons have abandoned all hope when the DNC employees arrive at work and find that all the "O"s have been removed from their computer keyboards. If Hillary quits the race, she must make sure that Obama loses, to set up her '12 run.

I'm curious to see the market's reaction to last night's results. Will they dip because the possibility that Obama is the nominee or will they rise because McCain stands a better chance against Obama?

The party's overIt's time to call it a dayThey've burst your pretty balloonAnd taken the moon awayIt's time to wind up the masqueradeJust make your mind up the piper must be paid

The party's overThe candles flicker and dimYou danced and dreamed through the nightIt seemed to be right just being with himNow you must wake up, all dreams must endTake off your makeup, the party's overIt's all over, my friend

(A KINDER VERSE THAN THE ONE FROM "The Wizard of Oz" - "Ding, Dong etc.")

Seniors and women are the most reliable Democratic voters. Seniors haven't supported Obama. Women over 40 also haven't supported him.

People over 40 tend to be more reliable voters. Meaning, they actually vote.

But Obama has an answer to this: The miracle of the young voter. I suppose it could happen for him, but the Democratic party has been chasing this particular dream since 1972, and it's never happened. Younger folks are less reliable voters...and if they do vote, they tend to vote like their parents and their surrounding community, rather than like UC Berkeley students.

Obama will have a tough row to hoe getting seniors, white women, latinos and blue collar whites. Add to the mix nauseating race baiters like Andrew Sullivan poisoning the well, MoveOn idiotic ads, and 99% of his supporters annoying the living fuck out of anyone within earshot should make any Dem nervous. It will be interesting when his blanky in Hillary is out of the picture how he handles all the incoming.

I think Garage is pretty much on target in his comments about Obama's appeal to what groups. The Hispanic bloc may be a bit more interesting. Look to Puerto Rico for an assessment. But it should also be noted that Hispanic attitudes toward color vary by region. But make no mistake: hispanics are not at all color blind. (My dad was born in Havana, and my grandmother would not let him marry without seeing pictures of the bride-to-be's GRANDPARENTS, lest a person of color contaminate the family.)

Damn--I just realized I threw my Grandmother under the bus--I should probably be voting for obama as member of the Grandmother under the bus voting bloc.

Man I laughed my ass off over that.

You know, in a sadomasochistic sort of way, I want to see Obama win so all the youth vote can see what it was like having Jimmy Carter for President.

I won't hurt too bad because I have a fixed mortgage at a comfortable 6% a nice 401K portfolio that I will immediately transfer to a money market the minute interest rates hit 10%. Oh and you'll only have to wait until 2020 to get that 35mph mandated automobile rather than drill for more oil here. That is, if you can afford one.